Is it a WOL??

[lesleyc]

So who out there is truly committed to LCing as their way of life.

I mean truly made the transition from being on a diet, to actually modifying their eating habits...for life

Some real honesty here guys......we all talk about this being a WOL but do we really mean it :q:

For me this transition happened about 2 months in. I can no longer imagine eating any other way. This is me :thup:

Lesley

[DebPenny]

For me all it took was the second week. One week of feeling better, more alive, more alert, happier, stronger. The effects for me started in the second week.

I think one reason that was the case with me is that I didn't have, and haven't had, any cravings for sweets or other carbs. The only real hurdle I had was learning to eat fresh veges and take the time to prepare them.

And since the program lets me eat my most favorite foods -- artichokes with mayonaise, avocados, Joe's Special, etc. -- I haven't felt the least bit deprived.

I love it! And I'm loving creating new recipes for my new way of life!

And as far as learning to take the time to prepare veges, I prepare them in advance and store them in plastic containers. I keep diced onions, celery sticks, sliced mushrooms, chopped scallions and all manner of other prepared veges available so I don't have any excuse to go out instead. Although, going out is actually very easy to stay on track.

Thanks for asking the question!

;-Deb

:daizy:

[Natrushka]

Not sure when it happend, but I know that I noticed it had happend when I was on holiday in Cuba. It was effortless - it's how I eat now.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to go back. Carbs made me miserable, cranky, moody, headachey, hungry AND fat! I can live without them - it's such a sacrifice, not!

Nat

[Rosebud]

Yep, it's a WOL.
Like Nat, I'm not sure exactly when it happened but I can't imagine eating any other way now.
(Check it out, me, comparing myself to Nat! :p The cheek of me!)

Even my SO, who started this with me to humour me, has stayed because he feels so much better on this WOE. Friends have been telling him how much better he looks - he's lost very little weight, eats just enough carbs to maintain.

:rose:Rosebud:rose:

[lisaf]

I have to agree - I don't know when it happened either. Like Nat I was on vacation and although I loosened the reins a bit, I was happier sticking to my usual diet. I also realized it the other day when I contemplated whether I could call myself a success or not...success somehow implies that you've achieved an endpoint and I don't really see it being over in any way. Does this make any sense?

More noticeable though...is that the feeling that I have to struggle through is gone. This is what I do, this is who I am.

Lisa

[BCBabe]

I think it was when I realized that I am in control of my food not my food controlling me!!:D I am enjoying a quality of life that I definately would have never achieved eating low-fat. For me it is truly the addiction response to sugar that I have overcome. In my case, I am a sugar addict and it is imparative that I avoid it because it could end up killing me one day. Like many of you, I make my food choices automatically and look forward to every bite because I know I am doing the best thing for my body. The food-equals-guilt equation is gone!! :yay:

:sunny:SS!!

[Karen]

I realized one day that LC was now my "safety net" and the carby way was just plain dangerous in all sorts of ways.

I will not go back - yeah, never say never - and if I do, just find me and shoot me! ;)

Karen

[moonmist]

I've accepted this as my way of life, its been almost a year eating this way and Im not tired of it yet. I look back at my eating habits before starting LCing and i can't believe i used to eat all that "crap". Now when i think about going back to eating that way I just get sick. I love LCing and I dont really intend to switch back to my old habits.

[Atrsy]

I can't say so for sure. I love the way I feel, love the fact that I am in control, and I even love keeping the charts and tracking my progress. Also, I never was very physical, in fact I tried to hide in the corners in gym class so that I would be missed in some of the games. LOL Hated exercise. Now I look forward to going to the gym.

But I still feel like the recovering alcoholic. I never know when I may cheat and eat something that will send me on that slippery road back to my old habits. I'm still in that vulnerable state.

I plan to stick with this woe. I love the encouragement of all the wonderful people here. I think that this time I can actually do it and I am looking forward to being slim again.

[lisaf]

Atrsy - I know what you mean about feeling like you could slip at any time. That feeling has lessened over time as I've become more confident in myself and my ability to stick with it. Also, as the weight comes off, you may find that you can tolerate more carbs...on the other hand, a true addict may never be able to. You'll find your "niche" and what works for you.

I still keep that little warning in the back of my head that knows where the slippery slopes are and tries to steer me clear. I tend to become "addicted" for short periods of time to certain artificially sweetened desserts. For a while it was jello made with cream. At the moments its almond bark. As soon as my stash is gone I know I'll avoid it for a while.

Lisa

[ldypgmr]

My friends keep saying things like..."When you are off this diet...we will treat you to a ___________" You fill in the blank, as long as it is high in carbs.

They don't understand that I now view sugar and processed flour as poison to my system. It is a WOL, to go back is to sign my death certificate.

Dee

[rustpot]

Four months doth not a life make. methinks.
But forsooth, the carbs I do not take forthwith.
Yet hark the day breaks yet forth when mighty cravings may appear and smite the fair Rustpot in his tracks.

And thus the vigilante watch he keeps, lest morsels of a floury kind might slip twixt cup and plate whence not the numbers counted low shall cause a tragic spike and deafening stall.

If truth be told upon this day and wisdom speaks from a winter OWL, the time is yet to come when sanguine humours do abate and corpulent frame is sculptured less.

And yet the present task is hardly done and daily life not so ingrained as makes the very thought of sweetness sour the brain. But when the flesh shall stand like a greyhound in the slips then surely life will mirror appetite henceforth.

[lisaf]

I am mightily impressed dear Rustpot! Can it truly be that we have an LC bard in our midst!? We become cultured despite ourselves...must be all the steak and egg.

Lisa

[razzle]

Right now, it's my way of life...but I'm old enough to know that ways of life can change. For thirteen years of my life, low-cal eating was a way of life...and I would have kept at it, counting every morsel that went into my mouth, probably (despite the health risks and fainting spells), but my poor abused body rebelled. One morning I woke up and just couldn't get back to 500 calories again--and believe me, I tried! I don't think LCing has that same sort of reactive and inevitable "NO" from the body. I doubt I'll wake up in 2007 one day and simply be unable to eat another steak and salad, automatically regurgitating it or the like. So I suspect it's physically possible to make it a WOL.

But I also know that I live in a Carby Carby World. I know that it's darned hard to say no to some old favorite carby foods, and it's darned hard to stop once I begin eating them. So does WOL mean life of total abstenance? Or does it mean finding a place in my life for a rare dessert made of carefully-chosen ingredients (NOT WHEAT! lol) eaten with a meal? (that much I know and believe--don't eat carbs alone! CAD a meal if you must go off-program!) Is thinking it could mean the second thing just a part of an addictive mindset, like the 'just a sip wont hurt me' pleading/self-justification of an alcoholic? Or is thinking the first just another kind of eating disorder, an "all or nothing" rigid rule that is more about getting a false sense of control than it is about health? I don't know those answers. I may never have a final certain answer.

I cautiously move forward, working through my emotional issues, avoiding promising "forever" too much, paying attention to how I react to various foods eaten under various circumstances. Life is process...and I'm engaged in the process of low-carbing right now.

Exercise, though: that's just a way of life for me. Seldom has it not been (even when I was a size 22) and only injury will slow me down in the future.

[dizzyd]

Razzle, you are amazing. You and I have some things in common, and I could not have said that better if I had tried!

I was going to post my own reply, but after reading your I think a simple "ditto" will suffice.

[Ruralgurl]

This is my second shot at low-carb. The first time four years ago I lost 40lbs without a hitch. The first weight loss in my life. Fabulous so I thought, this would be my WOL now that I had found it...Oh but for those insidious carbs. One by one I snuck them back in.
When a couple of glasses of wine didn't affect my weight, I thought oh maybe just a sweet treat of some kind, and I tottered along for a couple of months just fine. Then BAM all the old complaints started back up and and the scales crept up, there I was hitting the fast food joints or doing the ice cream.......

Well I am back and I am feeling so much better and I am trying hard to see that this way of eating is it for me. I consider myself like an alcoholic just with sugar as my DEMOM. Just one drink will hurt me maybe not tomorrow but it will. Also I am not pleasant to be around when eating the bad carbs not even to myself. I do not want to be in that place. So I am thrilled to know that you are all going along with me on this journey.

[upncomer]

I consider myself like an alcoholic just with sugar as my DEMOM. Just one drink will hurt me maybe not tomorrow but it will.

"Hi, my name is Darla and I am a carbaholic".

I feel exactly like that - I am so afraid of those damn carbs that I am obsessed with keeping them away from me. Hopefully, that feeling will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I think for me to keep to this WOL forever is to also get rid of all of the emotional baggage that went with the 100+ lbs as well as losing the actual weight. I read a wonderful post here a couple of months ago (if anybody remembers it, please direct me so I can print it out and keep it close) that says (paraphrasing) with every pound gained there are emotions and memories tied to it. If we don't tackle the emotional issues tied to the weight as well as losing the lbs., we will never keep the weight off.

If I can effectively deal with my "baggage" as I am losing this weight, I am hopeful that there will be no problem living this WOL for the rest of my life.

[Karen]

Is thinking it could mean the second thing just a part of an addictive mindset, like the 'just a sip wont hurt me' pleading/self-justification of an alcoholic? Or is thinking the first just another kind of eating disorder, an "all or nothing" rigid rule that is more about getting a false sense of control than it is about health? I don't know those answers. I may never have a final certain answer.

I started thinking of the rest of my life in relation to this WOL one day, and a deep sense of mourning came over me. It was in relation to sweets - all the desserts that I had not yet eaten and might want to eat.

I then realized that I simply could not think that way again. It was like the dying of an aspect of my addiction. That was it. I had changed.

Karen

[JeanetteJ]

Originally posted by Karen


I started thinking of the rest of my life in relation to this WOL one day, and a deep sense of mourning came over me. It was in relation to sweets - all the desserts that I had not yet eaten and might want to eat.

I then realized that I simply could not think that way again. It was like the dying of an aspect of my addiction. That was it. I had changed.

Karen


This is what happened to me the other day. I was in the store, buying groceries, and noticed a new candy bar on the market. One I'd never tried. First reaction was to pick it up and add it to my basket. But I didn't even touch it to see the carb content; I just continued walking, thinking, "I don't eat that anymore."

I've been low-carbing for almost 10 months now. And I've lost and gained, lost and gained, lost and gained. I was thinking of it as a way to get healthy and lose weight. And while my mindset was on doing it for life, it was not as a way of life; and that's a big difference. I'd do well a few days, blow it a few days. Always return, becuase I knew it was best, but not fully give it my all. When it comes to food, I am so used to giving myself whatever I want, whenever I want. My low-carb mindset was always there, but casual, at best.

I knew this only worked if I followed it; but I didn't listen to myself. I'd follow it a bit. And 'un-follow' it a bit. And it did me no good emotionally or physically. Ended almost back up to my start weight-- twice!!

It's been a week now, with the different mindset; without little inulgences "just because I want it". And it is an addiction, and I'm not out of the woods yet. But almost a year later... NOW it is becoming a WOL for me.

Jeanette

[colinjn]

I have realized that one of the keys to living this Way of Life (it took me a while to figure out "WOL" and even longer for "WOE"....challenge me to scrabble and you'll win everytime) is to accept my OWN WORTH. That's a complex issue.

I was trained to let everyone else go first. My Grandfather would let everybody waiting for the bus get on before him, even if he was first in line (a gentleman does these things). That attitude seeped through all areas of life. This is an oblique way of getting to the point, which is that I have learned that now is the time for ME to be FIRST and not feel guilty about it.

I have found that most of the times when I have strayed from this WOL (got it!) was through unthinking pressure from others. Either directly, by serving only high carb foods, or by group decisions to go to carb only restaurants. It is so hard to educate people! I'll tell them what I need and get blank looks and over comes that dish full of contaminating carbs. I literally get worn down and stray out of fatigue rather than temptation.

I've recently found that the solution is to be VERY assertive. Something that I'm not comfortable with yet. OH this is getting too long.....time for someone else to say something....

[Ruralgurl]

Karen and Colin and everyone,
I was thinking about both of your Grandparents and I thought I would pass this on. The Sugar Application bit is from a 1943 Ration Book of my Grandmothers. Imagine if we were to be held accountable for the sugar we consume today!!
I enjoyed your website Karen and especially when you write about your Grandmothers and their love of "Gathering". My mother gathers to this day, her passion is mushrooms, unfortunately I do not seem to take the time myself unless I am out with her! I remember wild asparagus, blueberries, strawberries etc also.
Perhaps part of the problem today is the total availability of foods, anything you want. My mom remembers when the ships came into the Vancouver Harbour using bananas for ballast! So they ate bananas or the one Mandarin orange she would get in her Christmas stocking for the year. I greww up next to a candy store. My daughter cannot grasp that juice was once fresh squeezed for the morning meal and juice glasses held maybe four ounces. I have a beautiful juicer that I can juice whatever and as much as I want ( Back when I thought Fit for Life would be good, boy was I buzzed on the sugar then) nor did they have Costco and an endless supply of one litre orange juices in the pantry.
So I guess my point is, our WOL has drastically changed over the years. I try to buy local and in season for B.C. I am looking forward to blackberry season as they grow rampant in my area. That is a treat to look forward to. My family does not know they are lowcarbing when I cook for them but slowly ever so slowly the rice and potatoes are disappearing from the dinner table. My daughter really enjoys making our own pasta too! I think I will continue with that though.
I was raised with the same thinking colinjn, and reading your note just made me cry for some reason. Where have all the gentle people gone? To quote colinjn "now is the time for ME to be FIRST and not feel guilty about it. I know that am also putting my family first too!
So here is the page from the Ration Book 1943:


"Canning Sugar Application"

Great care must be used in estimating your sugar needs for the canning season.

1. The "canning season" for Ration Administration purposes is from June 1st to October 31st, 1943.

2. You may apply for sugar to can fruit but sugar must not be in excess of 1/2lb. for each pound of fruit.

3. You may apply for sugar for jam and jelly making but sugar must not be in excess of 3/4lb. for each pound of fruit.

4. No extra sugar is allowed if pectin is used for making jam or jelly.

The fruit used for canning , Jam or Jelly making means any fresh perishable fruit from June 1st to October 31st and will include citron.

Marrow, Tomatoes and Pumpkin for purposes of canning sugar application are considered vegetables and should not be included when estimating sugar requirements.

Remember-

1. False statements on the Canning Sugar Application are subject to the full penalty of the law as outlined in the back of this "book"

2. The Ration Administration reserves the right to ask you to produce evidence of the proper use of the sugar obtained by Canning Sugar Application.

3. When you receive canning sugar coupons against this application, if they are lost or destroyed after receipt, there will be no replacement.

[snkhoward]

I realized it was a WOL when I went on planed splurges and would happilly returned to this WOE. I have done a few 2-5 day stints where I ate whatever I wanted as much as I wanted, but it was always easy to come back to this because I feel so much better..I don't have to take medicine for my IBS..I no longer have insomnia and I don't get the weakness and bloodpressure drops I used to.My body has chosen this WOE, it just took me 28 years to figure out what it wanted.Now I don't even want to.

[doingwell]

I have found that with Atkins I have been able to control my eating so much better than before, why would I go back to my old ways? I feel so wonderful and know LCing is perfect for me. As far as never having fettucine alfredo again....not that interested, truly. A bite of cheese cake? One bite is all I can. My body has responded so well to this that I have caught the attention of my 20 yr old daughter who is now in her first week on induction. She is a huge carboholic, has the moodiness and extra weight that accompanies this infliction including many yeast infections. I feel this is the answer for her. She has lost 6 lbs in 3 days (ah youth!) and is determined. I am still in the OWL part of the program and it has been effortless, when the extra weight is all gone I will continue as my WOE. Good luck to all of you!

[captxray]

I enjoy, truly your bardlike qualities, Fair Rustpot. Your head fairly shines from lack of rash blond locks that must once have sprinkled your handsome dome in wondrous abandon!

I, too, it seems, have found now my life doth ebb with the flow of this magnificent WOl. Never again shall my once fair lips allow the crossing of the dreaded carbohydrate gadflys that used to pass with nary a thought of their dastardly consequence.

"It all occured so fleetingly," he was roth to say. "A mere slip; a detour in the Road of Life, and there I found meself amongst the flavorful bounty of the Deadly Nightshades, corn, milk by-products, and legumes of Sergio's Mexican Cuisine. There it was that I met my doom (or at least felt so) amongst the terrible roiling and tossing upon the waves of nausea a slight one hour of precious passing within the glass! 'Woe is me!' I was heard to cry from strangled, garbled tongue as my fair, once richly plumed skull entered the oval sphere of the porcelain God once more. Wretched I felt as I shrank away and lay upon the cold, cobbled stone, heaving in my own destiny!"

Never again!!! Tis true! Tis true! Now, I have entered upon my life's culinary journey, no longer to consume those hydrates of carboniferous molecules that once I longed to embibe in lovely numberical frenzy.

[rustpot]

I am a knave if thou art a coxcomb.

But I think not sirrah.

Captxray,

You have obviously kissed the blarney stone and have an ear for the Iambic Pentameter.

A WOL without poetry would be a WOL without ....dietry?

[captxray]

Oh! Fair Rustpot! Thou art not a knave!

I so appreciate your fabulous words of wisdom! The Bard once mused,
"Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace
From day to day
To the last sylable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays
Light fools the way to dusty death!"

Depressing? Yes! You may ask yourself, "What doth this to do with our present illustrious subject matter?"

To that, I make reply, "Absolutely nothing! I just find that quoting the Bard 'makes glorious summer' of my otherwise dull and dreary existence, and happenstance brings me from the depths of despair to the pinnacle of something I cannot describe, to enjoy, like a fine Merlot, the pathway his words take through my clouded mind and 'fall tripingly off the tongue.' "

[adnil53]

I have to confess, I've not read all of this thread, but wanted to put my two cents worth in anyway. I was rereading some of Dr. Atkins book and came across something I remembered when I first started this WOE, something that caught my attention and made me think ”Why not?” Here’s an excerpt from it:

“In all probability, you no longer expect to be an Olympic athlete or a fashion model. On the other hand, you may be looking to the other extreme, toward goals that are really too modest, like being less than fat and relatively healthy….Frankly, I think you should set your sights higher than that. How about ideal weight, excellent health, and vigor that’s surprising for your age and somewhat more than you ever expected to have again.”

I think it can be done and is being done. Look at dankar, they are doing it! And so are a lot of others, I am too. I haven’t finished yet…but then is there a finish? Not if this is a way of life, and it needs to be if we want to succeed. I think I've made this a way of life, and I will succeed! :thup:

[Erin4980]

Until two weeks ago, as my friends remained astonished and I exclaimed that I would never be a piece of pizza or sandwich again, I fell off the wagon?!? After losing 33.5 lbs and feeling better than ever I went back the my old eating habits :eek: Not only did I go back to them, it was carb city 10X worse..b/c I knew I was doing something wrong. I'm telling you I never thought I would be able to go back, and I really thought this was my WOL until then. Numerous things brought my weaknesses back...but I don't think I will consider this my WOL until I hit my goal and start maintainence.

I mean, the worst thing I've heard about this diet and others is - yes, you can lose the weight, but can you keep it off? If I can keep it off, then this is my WOL. I think I still look to carbs for emotional satisfaction...if I can learn to deal with that w/ Atkins then this will become my WOL.

I also think that if I occasionally (like once a moth) have pizza w/ friends or a beer once I'm on maintainence, this does not mean lc is not my WOL, but rather I've been able to balance my health, addiction, and lifestyle to create a better WOL. I still have a problem with carbs so if I indulge a bit, I go crazy over board...to make this my WOL, I may have to cut them out all together forever. Hopefully , I will learn some restrain and decide that the crazy bloating, gas, and cramps are not worth it.

I'll keep you posted.
E

[lisaf]

Numerous things brought my weaknesses back...but I don't think I will consider this my WOL

I jumped in early on proclaiming my WOL in this thread...but lately??? Well, let's just say that "embracing" and "being" change day to day. Some days I feel totally in control. Other days (like today) I realize that things a slipping ever so little and I need to take charge a bit more.

Its an interesting dilemma. As a human being, I tend to glide towards a more effortless way of living...this WOE is NOT effortless! I've travelled the path to sugar and flour so many times sometimes its hard to remember to not re-trace my steps.

I think maintenance is going to force me to step out of "dieting" mode and into addiction management...Karen, we need to talk!

Lisa

[captxray]

I have been on every "diet" that has come down the pike in the last thrity years. None of them were effortless. However, this new WOL IS effortless because I have looked upon it as my WOL. When I go to a place where cake, or punch, or pizza or some other "forbidden fruit" is being served (like at work), I have convinced myself that I don't eat poisons for my body. That's what they are to me, Poisons. They cause me to be obese (an autoimmune disorder). Also, being on Neanderthin is a little different than being on Atkins. I've been on Atkins four times previously and never made it past the one month mark. Reason? It was a lot of work (translated, "effort") to count carbs, watch how many I was eating, keeping them in my bloodstream, and the cravings for them alive. In the last six months, I had one incident, early on, at the Mexican Restaurant (spoken of above) that thouroughly convinced me that my old ways were not healthy and were not worth the "effort" of heaving into the porcelain stearing wheel for most of my night. You see, I eat none of the "processed" carbohydrates, at all. If I eat them, now, they make me deathly ill...big deterant from eating them. Most people think this WOE is a bit crazy. I guess I'm crazy because it makes more sense than any other WOE that I've ever tried. No cravings (after the first week), leaner muscle mass, better health. It is really neat to go into a Pizza Parlour and have no cravings for all of those "forbidden fruits" that I was never able to "resist" before. Now, I crave a big salad, and a hunk of meat more than a piece of pizza or pie, or cake, or a hamburger. But, whatever turns your door knob to better health! I must say, though, getting sick that time after eating Mexican food made a "true believer" out of me. Also, knowing that the weight will come back faster than it went off, if I break my new habits and return to my old ways, makes me think twice about being anything other than a "carboholic" in recovery.

[adnil53]

I was wondering, because we all seem to slip up sometimes and eat stuff we shouldn't, that makes it not a way of life? :exclm: I don't think so. If we continue to try to stay on this LCWOE, then it is a way of life. If we succumb to some *forbidden food*, an fall off the wagon, but climb back on, doesn't that make this a WOL?But now if we go off and don't try anymore, then of course it is not a WOL. Just my opinion! We are not perfect!
:cheer: As long as we keep trying I think we are doing good, don't ya'all?

[lesleyc]

This is all really fascinating.

I have proclaimed that it is a WOL. Having read the responses I start to wonder. I have no doubt while I am on OWL that it is a WOL...when I get to maintenance, will I struggle?

I have not cheated and don't expect I will while losing. But once I have arrived adding in the odd treat or a few extra carbs really worries me. Will it be the slippery slope of carb addiction??

Adnil - I agree we should allow ourselves the odd forbidden fruit and it would still be a WOL.....as long as we can keep it that way

i hope I have the strength to continue once I reach maintenance...I have the intention but do I have the willpower??

Lesley

[captxray]

Good thinking. I think you're right! One of the things I tell my clients who are "holics" of various sorts, don't punish yourself for "falling off the wagon." Just get back on and ride it out.

[Lisa N]

Fair Rustpot your words do gladden my day.
With words and poetry you do have a way.
Advice and wisdom combined with style,
presented in prose to make us all smile.
Please continue, we give you the floor
and may the carbo witch never darken your door!
:cheer:

[l_knierim]

Well for me it is. You see in the last 1.5 yrs that I have been LCing, if I went "off" Lcing, I still did not eat bread or pasta or the like. I did eat a candy bar or two.I would only do this for the "special" occasion when you can not chose your food(family reunion and so on).I lost my 40lbs in the first month and have not gained any back, I think I went on Maintence with out even trying too. I am starting at induction again, so that I can lose those last 60lbs. I find that I can not stay away from this WOE for more than day or two then I go back with out even thinking about it. If I eat the carbs I get such a bad headache and then I go back to LCing.

For me this is the only way of eating.

Good question Lynn :wave:

[captxray]

Lisa N!

You, too are a budding bard! I am impressed.

I agree with you about our sparsely coifed, Fair Rustpot. I, too, look forward to his sage wisdom and fanciful verse which doth gladden my heart and keepeth me on the well-trodden and rutted pathway to the Realm of the Whoosh Fairey.

[j. mcadams]

I found this to be a most interesting subject. I do have to agree that only if we quit completely, then it would not be our WOE/WOL. Speaking for myself and being new to this I found out the hard way by going on Low carb. in Feb. only to ''FALL OFF THE WAGON'' about three weeks later. I was eating the wrong things and felt awful. I have gotten back on track as of this past Monday and I feel so much better and I know I do not want to go back to my old ways. Thanks for the question, it makes us think and do some soul searching. Joan :thup:

[wbahn]

Have I truly transitioned to LC as a permanent WOL? I think there is a pretty good chance of it. I am VERY comfortable with this WOE, I am satisfied, I am feeling so much better and I am enjoying life a lot more. Why would I go back?

Why would I go back? Because there are lots of bad things that taste really, really good. The chocolate cakes, the Hershey's bars, the brownies, the mashed potatoes and gravies, the holiday stuffing, the fresh, hot rolls from the oven.

So will I go back? I hope not. I do hope that I find that I can integrate all of the above, even the Hershey's bars, into an overall LC WOL where these things are minor and VERY infrequent forays into the high carb world. We will see. And if I find that I can't handle this brush with the bad, then I think I can truly avoid them for the rest of my life and not regret it.

[disneybebe]

Originally posted by Atrsy
But I still feel like the recovering alcoholic. I never know when I may cheat and eat something that will send me on that slippery road back to my old habits. I'm still in that vulnerable state.
I plan to stick with this woe. I love the encouragement of all the wonderful people here. I think that this time I can actually do it and I am looking forward to being slim again. [/B]
Atrsy- I feel exactly the same way too. I plan to do this WOL forever but I'm afraid that I might slip & go back to the high-carb & even higher sugar way. And I'm afraid that if I did, I can't get back on this LC track.
Adnil53- :thup: Wow, that was very well-said :thup: Excellent thinking :thup:

Good luck everyone & happy low-carbing!

[lisaf]

I plan to do this WOL forever but I'm afraid that I might slip & go back to the high-carb & even higher sugar way. And I'm afraid that if I did, I can't get back on this LC track.

I actually refer to this wariness as "eternal vigilance" i.e. I need to remain eternally vigilant about my eating or I risk gradually slipping down the slope into old habits. So far so good, but the awareness is key to success for me. In my case it means I constantly question how I'm feeling about food, what "kind" of eating I'm engaged in - is it "legal"? have I been overindulging in AS foods? am I eating emotionally or fueling my body? I continually reassess my goals and maintain my food journal so I'm accountable. It seems to continue to work so long as I never let myself get to confident...too comfortable.

Lisa

[disneybebe]

Hey Lisa,
Congratulations on hitting 100% GOAL! U go girl :thup:

Bebe :wave:

[csj]

I've been low-carb for the past nine months. In my head, it has always been a lifetime committment but I had an epihany last night that proves it. It was late, I was tired. There I am, knowing I will want lunch at work, but really wanting to go to bed. Even so, with much yawning and NO complaining, I get all the salad stuff out and make a terrific salad, get out a hamburger pattie and cheese and pack all my cute little plastic containers with legal, delicious food for the next day's work. In the old days, I would have just said "I'll grab something out" (in other words: "I'll have some junk for lunch). No more! The low-carb stuff I fix tastes better and is WAY better for me. Of course I eat out sometimes, but I know I can absolutely trust what I fix for myself.

Cindy

[wcollier]

Yes, it has to be for me if I want to be healthy. I spent one year resisting the change, thinking I could cheat every so often, no harm done. WRONG!

It wasn't until I admitted that I am a sugar addict that I found any peace. No more sugar for me, bottomline. Now I'm fully engrossed in LCing and love it. I know the dangers of going back down that road. It's no longer a pity game for me. This WOL feels empowering.

I can't say that I will never eat sugar again. I certainly hope I won't. But I can say with certainty that this will be my WOE forever.

Wanda

[lasert]

it seems to be these days.
I can honestly state that I don't think of it as dieting any more and that is a good thing. I really like the foods I eat and other than the lack of my favorite fatty ice creams and cheesecake with graham cracker crust, I don't miss much of what I used to eat.
As cold weather has arrived, and with it snow, I have kind of missed the wonderful stews and chilis I used to make. It had just occurred to me, however, that the best chili recipe I have does not have any beans and can probably be modified successfully to be a low carb meal anyways.
I have not eaten out much yet because it is cheaper to eat at home and more convenient but I know I can grab a steak or slab or roast beef and now there is a Fridays low carb menu which I plan to try.
What seems funny to me is the notion that I keep having that this is the way I will eat forever. Other than wondering how I would do it if my living circumstances were to change drastically, I see no reason why I cannot just stick to low carbing.
Fortunately for me I have been aiming at staying under 20 the whole 9 months. I say fortunately because I now find that I wasn'tcounting the 2 carbs that were in every cup of tea I made each day, and often made 2-3 cups (16 oz). Those 2 to 6 carbs were never counted so I probably have been more in the 26 to 30 carb range the whole time except for a couple of 3-4 day fat fasts that I used to trigger a return to a more rapid loss.

[bluesmoke]

A wol? Yes that is what it has become in the last 18 months. It's been nice losing the weight, but the health aspects are much more important. Before I started, I felt that I was dying, and it probably was true. I was to the point where I couldn't really even do my job properly, let alone the other mundane parts of life. I couldn't sleep at night or stay awake during the day, my eating was extreme with high carb.
Now these problems have disappeared, while I lose slowly, I've never stayed on any weight loss program for over 9 months and here it's 18 months. I work where all kinds of "forbidden fruit" are constantly available, and I don't touch it. I now crave fats like I used to crave carbs. I can still feel the pull of carby foods occasionally, but it is weak. One time I ate sugar in something unintentionally and all the old sick feeling came back, I didn't enjoy it, I just wanted theeffects to end. For me, I don't feel at all deprived, and I like what I eat. Nyah Levi

[DoubleD]

I have been eating low carb without exception since I started in July of 2002. I choose to eat this way everyday, every meal... because I love what I eat and I love how I feel. I remember clearly how bad I felt when I was eating low fat/high carb.

It IS a way of life for me. It freaks people out sometimes... they try to encourage eating differently because ... "your at goal, it's your birthday, it's Christmas, it's Thanksgiving, it's your daughter's birthday, it's your dog's birthday.... " - you get the picture. I just don't go there. No reason too. I eat an abundance of wonderful foods... even sweets if I want them... just low carb items. I have educated myself on why this works. Experienced it for myself (this works!). Why pass that by for a moment of questionable pleasure to eat a high carb food item? Just is not worth it to me.

[adkpam]

I remember reading DANDR the and thinking "Well, with exercise, I can eat 100 carbs a day and I think I can handle that."
It's five months later, and I eat around 40 carbs a day (sometimes more) but I couldn't think of eating 100! Last night I was eating leftover Sesame Shrimp by scraping off the breading. Finally gave up because even the trace of breading was bothering me.
It is astonishing to me, a former pasta monster, that pasta is the least of what I miss. I think I was two months in when I finally realized that it has completely converted my brain.
I began announcing, "I'm in for life!"
I had a sliver of pumpkin pie and two bites of cheesecake on Thanksgiving. I still have a dish of non0lc ice cream now and again. But for 99% of my food, it's good choices and makes me feel good.
What's not to like!?!?!

[sunspine17]

Boy I'm telling you, I can't wait to get to goal so I can go off this DIET and eat some Krispie Kremes!

JUST KIDDING!

Seriously though, that's the way I looked at "diets" in the past. Honestly, that's the way I thought of LC'ing right when I was set to start. A couple of weeks into it, however, I was hooked. I KNEW I was a sugar addict way before I even considered Atkin's. This is the first time in my life I have ever broken free of sugar and excessive carbs. I felt and still feel sooooo good. I feel healthy for the first time in my life.

I don't feel deprived in the least. If I want something I can eat it. Faux potatoes are to die for. I know how to make a mean SF/LC b-day cake and cheesecakes and such for special occasions. Pasta? Don't even want it. Bread -- not really (and I can have LC bread if I want). Pizza? LC Pepperoni/zuchinni casserole-- now THAT'S pizza! As far as my taste buds being satisfied, I eat like a queen now compared to then. I am very happy with all my eating experiences. I'm a passionate lover of food, that will never change. The thing that has changed is I'm enjoying it more now than I ever have.

Aside from the weight loss benefit, I LOVE eating this way. It's become part of my life and I honestly don't see myself going back to the "other side." After reading more about this WOE upon starting I have come to embrace it wholeheartedly. I BELIEVE in what I'm doing. I know it's good for me for many, many more reasons other than weight loss. I want this feeling of good health to continue.

Luckily, this WOE has really rubbed off on my family. They are eating LC most of the time by default. They have grown to love it like I do and now go out of. their way to make LC choices for themselves. They all feel notably better eating like this. There is no more "mommy's food" and "our food." This is the way we eat period and we all agree that we're in it for the long haul.

If you told me a year ago that I would be eating this way and taking my vitamins and supplements I'd laugh and say "no way." But it's true -- there is no going back for me.

[katwoman]

I'm 7 months and 50 lbs into this. I find so much variety in what I can eat that I don't miss the things I can't eat at all. In fact, I have a hard time imagining what maintenance will be like when I increase carb consumption. I can't think of a thing I want to eat that I'm not already eating--and increase amounts? How when I eat now until I'm full? I ate a spoonful of mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving and they tasted bland--used to think it wasn't a meal without potatoes.

I am concerned about maintenance as I don't want to ever again be enslaved by the sugars & other carbs--I guess it's a good thing I started with so much to lose and have plenty of time for this WOL to be deeply ingrained before I deal with that.

[mattad]

I have been on this program for 8 months. In that time I have lowerd my body fat down to 8%. I am 5'10" 150 lbs... work out every day for 45 min and eat like a horse.

The food on this diet is WAY more exciting than the high carb diet I had before. All the different meats and cheeses with tonnes of fruits and veggies. The best thing is that there are SO many options for LC desserts (hand made of course) that I could never go back. In the 8months I've become an amature chef, saved tonnes of money from not eating out, and have a rock hard body.

I'm never going back to high carb again. With my limit at 90 NET carbs a day... I rarely reach that!

Do the healthy thing... keep on LC.

-Matt

[RCFletcher]

I think it becomes a way of life when you regard it as somehow the 'normal' way for you to eat. I go off plan sometimes due to travelling abroad, parties etc., but left alone, in my own house, I automatically return to low carb.

It's been 2 and a half years now...I think it has become a way of life for me now.

[Paris]

A way of life is made up of many individual days.

Today I ate well. I followed my plan and made healthy choices within my "bull's eye." I did not exceed my carb limit nor partake in faux foods and/or my trigger foods. I also focused on my emotional and spiritual recovery; I asked my higher power for willingness when I struggled.

Today I am a grateful recovering food addict who is working my healthy low-carb food plan. I am aiming for a repeat tomorrow. ;)

[DaddioM]

Wow...one of the most entertaining and informative threads I've seen (thanks for the steakspear guys).

This dieting thing is relatively new to me. I was 127lbs and 6'1" when I graduated from college (no typo's here).

I "fixed" my thinness problem over the years, basically doubling my weight. I really pray that when I hit goal, I can stick with it.

I too seem to think this is "relatively" easy but am worried about maintenance. I'm hoping to come up with a "plan" because I do want the occasional beer and pizza and pasta, but don't want to return to my old ways.

At least I know you guys will be here for my support.

[black57]

This is a WOL for me. Carbohydrates has dealt my family a terrible blow and I am the only one dealing with it, although my sister half-heartedly takes part in lc woe. But I am occasionally debating with friends as to what is good. I had a big debate at work about some mashed cauliflower that I had with my steak and mustard greens. I, personally, was in the Mother of all Heavens. I enjoyed and savored every bite of food while listening to " how can you eat mashed cauliflower?"

I love the food that I get to eat on Atkins. I might love it toooo much. I am going to treat myself to a $6.00 burger at Carls Jr., today.

[CherylAust]

was chatting to a friend a couple of weeks ago. We mentioned that after reaching goal we thought there would be no harm in having a hicarb treat every so often. These last 2 weeks I'm not so sure. It all started with a hicarb dessert while out with friends, next day dessert was laid out in front of me at a party. Then I let myself have some more treats 2 pieces of pizza on one day, a mini candy bar on another, a couple of sandwiches. One thing I did realise is that those items did not trigger the same emotions as before, it was as so I didn't enjoy them. The pizza I found was blah. Today I am back on the wagon, and found I really enjoyed my dinner, can still taste it. I have had major PMS (another message) which I feel is linked to the sugar and wheat products I have eaten. I did eat a serving of lowcarb chocolate tonight, which I enjoyed much more than the mini bar of my (no longer) favourite chocolate honeycombe.

Onward lowcarb soldiers

[Kristine]

It's definitely a WOL for me. It's what feels right. It's like many of the other things you have to do to take care of yourself - not doing it results in some discomfort, both physically and mentally.

[ezandreth]

but after being on this wol for nearly 3 years, I'm so grateful to have learnt that and so to have an answer to the cravings that were driving me mad and probably going to kill me one day, that I'll stick with it. I know I feel so much better now, and that slipping off the bandwagon makes me feel bad so quickly, that I have a real incentive. I've also figured out (after a lifetime of bread and pasta) that I'm probably also wheat-intolerant. But your demon really craves the things that are bad for it.
I'll always be a recovering addict at best. The person who mentioned eternal vigilance had it right.

Zan

[tashinpa]

I can see myself _pretty much_ eating like this forever, but with the occasional treat.... not until I'm down to my goal weight, of course.

But to live without pasta??? No way, jose! Even before I started SBD, my husband and I would only have pasta maybe once or twice a month because it is so fattening, but to do without it forever is not something I want to do.

Italian cuisine is my fave, and I will be spending my summer in Germany, where there are tons of fantastic Italian restaurants with fresh made pasta.....

The beergardens might also prove to be a problem -- but hopefully I'll be very close to my goal weight by then...

[captxray]

As far as I'm concerned I plan to do this for the rest of my life. I don't even want to go where I've been BEFORE. It's no longer a weight loss thing. It's truly a way of life. People pretty much leave me alone, now that I've been on it for about 2 1/2 years and I don't feel the need to be a zealot any longer. I just do my thing and watch my side of the street and other people will do whatever they choose to do with their lives...good or bad...none of my business. I can't change anything or anybody but, me. Even that has to come from a change of heart and I let my Higher Power do the changing, now.